Education Technology


Collecting Solar Rays

Activity Overview

In this activity, students' will use three Temperature Sensors to collect data from three solar collectors and determine which one absorbs the most heat. They will develop an understanding of the difference between absorption and reflection.

Before the Activity

  • Connect the TI-73 Explorer™ to the CBL 2 unit
  • Plug three temperature sensors in channel 1, channel 2, channel 3 on the CBL 2 and start the DataMate™ program
  • Download TI-GRAPH LINK™ or TI Connect™ to analyze data on the computer
  • Download DataMate for TI-83+ program
  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 85 - 91 from the attached PDF file for your class
  • During the Activity

    Distribute the pages to your class

    Follow the Activity procedures:

  • Collect three soda cans painted black, white and silver
  • Put a sensor in each painted can and seal with putty or clay
  • Place the cans with sensors in the sun at exactly the same time or next to a heat lamp at the same distance from the heat source
  • Collect temperature data every 30 seconds for 10 minutes
  • Graph data
  • Identify which color made the best solar collector and which color reflected heat the best
  • After the Activity

    Students will complete Student Data Collection and Analysis Sheet.

    Review student results

  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary